Who truly enjoys searching for a new job? Not only is it difficult to quickly convey your worth to employers, not only is it frustrating to scan through vague and inapplicable job openings, not only is it tedious to fill out numerous applications, and not only is it nerve-racking to meet potential employers for interviews, but also this entire process comes with very high stakes. If you can’t succeed, you risk your livelihood: your very means of securing the necessities you need to live your life! In its own small way, Google wants to make this process easier. Last month the search engine announced at the I/O 2017 Keynote that it would be implementing a new initiative to assist both job seekers and employee seekers (also known as employers). A significant part of that initiative, Google for Jobs, works with the job-matching industry to provide a better experience on Google Search. And since it’s officially open for business as of June 20, 2017, we’d like to offer a quick introduction.
Google for Jobs: What You Need to Know
What does it look like?
What a superficial question! But if you insist . . . Google for Jobs jumps into action when a searcher types in a straightforward query like “nursing jobs in nyc” or “entry level jobs in seattle.” The algorithm displays a job listings preview directly beneath the search bar, which can be expanded to show the listings’ details.
The listing displays the job title, company, and how many days have passed since the company posted the job. It may also display whether the job is full-time or part-time and which website the listing came from (with a link to the job-posting website). To get the full experience, be sure to click the blue arrow at the bottom of the box that says “___ more jobs.” This expands the feature and greatly improves your ability to filter the search results. You can filter by job title, date posted, type of job, city, company type, and employer.
How does it help employers and site owners?
Although Google won’t magically send you the perfect job applicant, this new program will help you attract new and better candidates. How? First, by partaking in the Google for Jobs feature, your job postings will be eligible for a prime position at the top of Google’s search listings. When a query fits your job listing, your post may appear in the new feature along with your logo, reviews, ratings, and the details of the job. Next, because job seekers can filter their searches (by location, for example, and job title), you are more likely to get applicants who are a good fit for the position. Finally, by taking part in the program, you can increase the likelihood that excellent applicants will find your listing and apply for the job.
How does it help job seekers?
You know how when you search “movie showtimes,” Google automatically presents a list of movies playing near you? And then if you click on a movie, you can see all of the showtimes for all of the nearby theaters playing that movie in a neat little box at the top of the results page?
Google for Jobs works in a very similar way, providing a convenient and organized box of recent job postings at the top of the SERP. It will prevent you from having to visit multiple sites, it should eliminate duplicate listings, and it may surface job listings that you wouldn’t otherwise have seen. If you find a job that appeals to you, you can click on the provided link to apply. You can also sign up for job alerts by e-mail, so that you don’t miss new postings. Google for Jobs might also help you explore and expand your search criteria for jobs. For example, when you search for the job position “writer” (along with your desired location), Google offers some filtering suggestions: proposal writer, technical writer, copywriter, editor, etc. This might help you figure out where to direct your attention if your search is currently quite broad. Remember that you can filter the results and explore the jobs’ descriptions as well. In addition, some listings will provide an employer rating and reviews, and some will include commute times if you sign in before using the experience.
Admittedly, Google for Jobs isn’t an amazing boon for all job seekers; it simply speeds up the process a little. Some people may find it more helpful to visit the websites of companies directly (if they already know where they want to work), and others might prefer to virtually network on a site like LinkedIn or post their resume on Indeed.com. In some ways, Google for Jobs isn’t very different from a standard job listing website; it simply combines the listings of many sites. In the future, some hope that the feature will include more valuable career information, such as job-seeking advice, resume tips, and salary ranges.
How can I post a job listing on Google?
To ensure that your job listing is eligible for the Google for Jobs feature, you must complete two tasks. First, you must mark up your job listings with structured data. To learn how to do this according to Google’s guidelines, check out this page. Second, you must submit a sitemap with a date for each listing you post. You may also use an RSS or Atom feed.
We understand these tasks may sound tedious if you post a large volume of job openings online. So if you have more than 100,000 job listings or you make more than 10,000 changes each day, know that you may qualify for the Job Posting High Change Rate feature.
In addition, if you post job openings on a listing site like CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, Monster, or even Facebook, know that your listings are already eligible for the Google for Jobs feature. You don’t need to do any extra work to ensure they can take part.
What does it mean that this feature is enriched?
When Google talks about enriched search results, they’re referring to anything added to standard rich results. These enhancements, which are often interactive and immersive, improve the search experience for users. And because they are composed of structured data, the user can search across their properties.
How can I improve and track my job listings?
To check your work and keep track of your listings, you can use a few basic tools. First, to validate your markup, explore the Structured Data Testing Tool. Next, use that same tool to check that job seekers are seeing what you want them to see by previewing your job posting. After that, use Search Console to survey the status of your sitemap. You can also use the Search Console to view the Rich Cards Report, which displays your site’s statistics and markup errors.
Is that all I need to know?
Before you go, we should mention a few limitations. Currently Google for Jobs is only available for searches for American jobs in English. It is not yet supported by Microsoft Edge or the Google iOS app (as of June 23, 2017). In addition, since the feature has only just rolled out this week, prepare to see some changes and enhancements in the future. For example, we already know that Google plans to add more filtering options to the search experience.
Whether you’re out of work, dissatisfied with your current job, or simply exploring the possibilities of a new career, try searching on Google. Granted, that’s likely what you would have done anyway; but now, your search query will trigger a list of well-organized, pertinent postings that meet your search criteria. Try it out, and let us know what you think of Google for Jobs in the comments below.
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